Refrigerating apparatus



May 23, 1933. F. L. TARLETON 1,910,365

REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 9, 1951 //v VENTOR wrmsssss- F. 1.,TF1RLE'T'ON.

I a l A? I A ro/m5 y Patented May 23, 1933 1 UNITED STATES PATENT! OFFICE U HOUSE ELECTRIC 8v MANUFACTURING VANIA COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYL- REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Application filed December My invention relates to refrigerating apparatus, and partlcularly to refrlgeratlng apparatus of the small domest1c or commercial type.' Refrigerating machines of the small domestic or commercial type are usually compression machines and. comprise generally amotor, a compressor, casings for the motor and compressor, a condenser and an evaporator. Means are provided for dissipating some of the heat of the motor, compressor, and evaporator through a condenser which means also cools either the motor or the compressor or both by a draft of cooling media.

This may be provided for by radiation or by a forced draft of air caused by a fan. The compressor, condenser and evaporator are connected together by suitable conduit for conveying refrigerant to the various parts of the refrigerating system. The evaporator is mounted in a heat insulated compartment of a refrigerator cabinet, and the remainder of the refrigerator unit is usually mounted in another part of the refrigerator box. or it may be mounted some distance from the refrigerator cabinet.

' Absorption, adsorption, and various other types of refrigerating machines are also utilized for domestic and commercial purposes. Practically all types have in common,

however, a refrigerant return conduit an evaporator.

In small refrigerator units of the types mentioned, it has been found that moisture condenses in relatively large quantities on the from I conduit of the refrigerating system which conveys low-temperature refrigerant from I the evaporator if the conduit is exposed to the external atmosphere. ofthis conduit usually extends between points outside the refrigerator cabinet which are substantially at room temperature or a little above, while the refrigerant within the conduit, and therefore the conduit itself, are

far below average room temperature. The

difference in temperature results in condensation of moisture on the exterior surface of the conduit, which moisture eventually drips The major portion 9, 1931. Serial No. 579,939.

the refrigerating unit, or onto the floor, resulting in a considerable nuisance. I

This problem has been attacked by placing heat insulation on the conduit, but it has been found not only that this is an expensive procedure, but also that a small amount of condensation of moisture takes place on the insulation, which moisture is absorbed thereby. The absorption of moisture increases with time and finally renders the heat insulation less effective. Moisture then condenses more rapidly on the insulation and grops off onto the refrigerating unit or the oor.

It is, therefore, an object of my invention to provide novel means to prevent moisture from condensing. on the refrigerantreturn conduit leading. from the evaporator of a refrigerating machine.

It is a further, object of my invention to utilizea portion of the heat incident to a refrigerating cycle to prevent drip of moisture from the conduit by providing on the conduit means for absorbing heat, which is utilized to prevent condensation or to secure reeva-poration of condensed moisture.

These and other objects'are effected by my invention as will be apparentfrom the following description and claims taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this application, in which: Fig. 1 is a view of a complete compression type refrigerating unit showing an embodiment of my invention applied to the refrigerant return conduit between the evaporator and compressor casing of the unit; and

- Fig. 2 is a view taken on line IIII of Fig. 1 showing one of the fins utilized in an embodiment of my invention. The objects and advantages of my invention are attained generally by providing fins on the refrigerant return conduit leading from the evaporator of a refrigerating unit to prevent dripping of moisture from the conduit. As applied to a compression machine, as illustrated in the drawing, fins are disposed in the path of air coming from the fan and warmed by the condenser, the motor casing and compressor casing, or any one or any two of them, the fins absorbing heat pressor casing 3 and a motor casing 5, re-

spectively. The motor casing 5 is preferably provided with fins 7 to assist in diss'ipat ing the heat of the motor 4. A condenser 9 is provided with a fan 11 for cooling and condensing refrigerant delivered from the compressor 2 through a conduit 13. The fan 11 preferably draws air through the condenser 9 in the direction shown by the arrows in Fig. 1. The, air, therefore, after it has cooled the condenser 9, sweeps back over the motor casing 5, the motor casing fins 7, and the compressor casing 3, absorbing heat therefrom. The compressor 2 and motor 4 contained in casings 3 and 5, respectively, fan 11, and the condenser 9 are preferably mounted on a base 10.

The condensed refrigerant in the condenser 9 is delivered to a float chamber 15 through 7' a conduit 17. The refrigerant is expanded as itleaves the float chamber 15, and is delivered to an evaporator 19 through a conduit 21 at a low temperature. The refrigerant absorbs heat in the evaporator 19 and is drawn back, still at a low temperature, to

the compressor casing 3 through a conduit 23 which conduit 23 is subject to room'temperatures from the base 10 to the compressor casing 3.

Fins 25 are disposed in heat exchange re lation with the refrigerant return conduit 23, which fins 25 are preferably metallic, and may be round as shown in Fig.2, or may be any desired shape. The fins are attached to the conduit 23, preferably by providing each of them with an aperture 24 and sliding them over, the conduit 23.- The fi'ns 25 may be then fastened to the conduit 23 by soldering. The number. of fins utilized depends on various conditions, and I do not wish to be limited in this respect. The fins 25 are disposed partway between the compressor casing 3, and the evaporator 19, so

that they are in heat exchange relation with a portion of the current of warmed air activated by the fan 11. The fins 25, therefore, present adequate heat absorption surface to absorb heat from the warmed air for the purpose of preventing moisture collectmg onand dripping from the return conduit 23. The temperature of the return conduit 23, or at least a substantial portion thereof, is kept above the dew point by the absorbed heat, or the absorbed'heat is effectiveto secure reevaporation, so that dripping from the return conduit is prevented.

From the foregoing description and drawing, it will be readily seen that I have provided a permanent and inexpensive means for preventing condensation of moisture on the refrigerant return conduit of a refrigcrating system.

WVhile I have shown my invention in but one form, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that it is not so limited, but is susceptible of various changes and modifications, without departing from the spirit thereof, and I desire, therefore, that only such limitations shall be placed thereupon as are imposed by the prior art 'or as are specifically set forth in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. Refrigeration apparatus including a condenser, a compressor and an evaporator, conduit means for returning low temperature refrigerant from said evaporator to said compressor, and means associated with said conduit means and utilizing air heated due to operation of the apparatus for preventing dripping of moisture from the conduit means.

2. Refrigeration apparatus including a condenser, a compressor and an evaporator, conduit means for returning low temperature refrigerant from said evaporator to said compressor, and means associated with said conduit means and utilizing heat-developed due to operation of the apparatus for preventing dripping of moisture from the conduit means, said heat utilizing means embodying metallic fins secured to said conduit means.

3. In a refrigerating apparatus, the combination of heat-producing elements including a compressor, a motor for driving the compressor, and a condenser, an evaporator; a metallic conduit for conveying low-temperature refrigerant from the evaporator to the compressor and having portions of its external surface exposed for the absorption of heat from one or more of the heat-producing elements, and projections provided on a portion of the conduit surface for augmenting the heat absorbing qualities of the latter.

nation of heat-producing elements including a compressor, a motor for driving the compressor, and a condenser; a fan for circulating air over one or more of the heat-producing elements; an evaporator; a conduit for conveying low-temperature refrigerant from 4. refrigerating apparatus, the coinbi- 5. Refrigerating apparatus comprising a compressor, a casing for said compressor, a

condenser, means for circulating air through said condenser and for directing an air stream over said compressor casing to extract 5 heat therefrom, an evaporator, conduit means between said evaporator and said compressor for conveying low-temperature refrigerant therebetween, said conduit means being at least partly disposed in the path of said air stream, and means for utilizing a portion of the heat of said air stream for preventing dripping of moisture from said conduit means, said heat-utilizing means being in heat conducting relation with said conduit means.

6. Refrigerating apparatus comprising a compressor, a casing for said compressor, a condenser, means for directing air through said condenser and over said compressor casing to extract heat from both, an evaporator, conduit means between said evaporator and said con ipressor casing for conveying lowtemperature refrigerant therebetween, said conduit means being at least partially disposed in the path of said warmed air stream, and fins disposed on said conduit means in heat conducting relation with said heated air stream and said conduit means.

7. Refrigeration apparatus comprising a compressor, means for driving the compressor. a casing for said compressor, a casing for said driving means, a condenser, means for directing an air, stream through said condenser and over said driving means and compressor casing for absorbing heat from all of them, an evaporator, conduit means between said evaporator and said compressor casing for conveying low-temperature rebeing at least partially disposed in the path of said warmed air stream, and fins disposed on said conduit means in heat conducting re lation with said heated air stream and said conduit means. i

8. Refrigerating apparatus including a compressor, a motor for driving said compressor, a condenser, means for directing a cooling media over portions of'said refrigerating apparatus for absorbing heat from portions thereof, an evaporator, a refrigerant return conduit leading from said evaporator, said conduit being at least partly disposed in the, path of said media, and means associated with said conduit for collecting heat from said media and transmitting it to said con duit.

9. A refrigerating system including a condenser, an evaporator, conduit means for conveying low temperature refrigerant from the evaporator to another part of said system, and heating means associated with said eond uit means in heat conducting relation therewith for preventing dripping of moisture therefrom.

10. Refrigeration apparatus including a frigerant therebetween, said conduit means compressor, a condenser, an evaporator, conduit means for returning low temperature refrigerant from said evaporator to said compressor, a portion of said conduit means being constructed and arranged to provide a substantial surface exposed to the air heated by the operation of the apparatus for preventing dripping of moisture from the conduit means.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this ith day of Dec. 1931.

FREDERIC L. TAR-LETON. 

